OXBOW’S MISSION

Our mission is to inspire people to eat healthy, sustainably grown food and to steward our natural resources for future generations.

WHAT WE DO

The Center is located on 230 acres of forest and grassland bordered by Western Washington’s Snoqualmie River. We use this mixed landscape to:

Produce food. We cultivate 13 acres of mixed vegetable crops on 30 acres of tillable land using agro-ecological principles, and we engage in research to inform conservation agriculture practices.

Grow native plants. We operate a native plant nursery that produces plants for habitat restoration projects, educational gardens, and urban landscapes, and conducts research on native plant propagation using sustainable growing methods.

Connect children to nature. We offer environmental education programs for children pre-K thru high school to build their comfort in the outdoors and provide them with opportunities to learn about the links between agriculture, conservation, and the environment.

Restore and sustain habitat. We carry out conservation projects and research to learn how humans can use land to our benefit while protecting biodiversity.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Fall Festival & Farm Stand Staff are responsible for creating a positive customer experience at “Oxtober,” our annual fall harvest festival and Farm Stand. Our popular pumpkin patch and Farm Stand will be open Thursday thru Sunday in Oxtober providing visitors with the opportunity to purchase a variety of vegetables, pumpkins, and native plants. On the weekends we will have additional fall festival activities such as; Kids’ Farm Adventures, arts & crafts, hay rides, food trucks, and live music.

Under the supervision of the General Manager and Facilities Supervisor, Fall Festival & Farm Stand Staff will provide a welcoming experience for festival visitors. Fall Festival & Farm Stand staff will be available to help with a wide range of activities and tasks as needed, including Farm Stand sales, children’s programming, maintaining the property, and more. We are a working farm in peak season and occasionally have the sudden need for helping hands in other capacities across the organization.

We are looking for 10-12 seasonal crew members to support our Oxtober Fall Festival, primarily on Saturdays & Sundays from mid-September through the end of October. One to three of our seasonal crew members will be needed on Thursdays & Fridays in the Farm Stand and pumpkin patch.
 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Customer Service

• Providing exceptional customer service at points of sale and across the festival
• Participating in Kids’ Farm Adventure programming as needed
• Working with children and families in the arts & crafts tent, Kids’ Farm, the Pumpkin SlingKing, and at other Fall Festival Activities
• Answering questions and directing public around the property
• Helping maintain the property, ensuring it is clean and safe

Sales

• Selling produce and native plants in the Farm Stand
• Selling pumpkins in the patch at Farm Stand
• Selling “magic beans,” Oxtober’s currency for activities

Farm Stand

• Setting up the Farm Stand and signage, and displaying produce
• Making sales and facilitating checkout at the register, using an iPad & Square
• Restocking produce and maintaining an attractive Farm Stand
• Breaking down stand at the end of the day and packing produce for storage
• Taking inventory
• Other harvesting and processing tasks, including work outside of the Farm Stand, as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

• Friendly and personable
• Comfortable with sales and customer service
• Able to lift 50 pounds
• Good math skills
• Detail oriented
• Good communication skills
• First-aid certification a plus
• Positive leadership skills
• Flexible, creative, and able to perform well in diverse conditions and under pressure

Additional desired qualities include: environmentally conscious, self-motivated, energetic, and professional.

The Oxbow Fall Festival Staff are part of a larger non-profit organization. A commitment to Oxbow’s overall mission and working as part of a team is critical.
 

COMPENSATION

These are seasonal, part-time positions, paying $12-$14.50 per hour, DOE, with access to food from the fields.